Kolek was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Sunday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Kolek will head to El Paso after posting a disappointing 6.23 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with 20 punchouts over 26 innings in his last five starts. The cold stretch came on the heels of back-to-back scoreless outings for the right-hander, and he will now look to reset at Triple-A. The move made room for Kyle Hart to join the major-league roster, and Hart is expected to operate as the team's bulk reliever behind opener David Morgan against the Rangers on Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Stephen Kolek: Chased by Rangers in loss
Rotowire
Kolek (3-4) allowed six runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 5.1 innings in a loss to Texas on Saturday.
Kolek struggled throughout the outing -- of the six innings in which he pitched, he was charged with at least one run in four of them. It's never a positive for a starting pitcher to allow as many homers as he notches strikeouts, which is exactly what Kolek did Saturday with two of each. The right-hander's six runs allowed tied a season-worst mark, and the nine hits were the most he has surrendered in an outing this year. Kolek has been fading of late, giving up three or more earned runs in four of his past five starts. That's pushed his season ERA up to 4.24 through 68 innings.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Stephen Kolek: Fans five in no-decision
Rotowire
Kolek allowed one run on three hits and one walk over 5.2 frames in a no-decision Sunday at Cincinnati. He struck out five.
After coughing up three or more earned runs in each of his three previous starts, Kolek looked much sharper in this 71-pitch outing over which he fired 44 strikes. The San Diego right-hander scattered three singles, with the only run he conceded coming on an Elly De La Cruz single in the sixth inning. Kolek wraps up his June with a respectable 3.38 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 23:11 K:BB across 32 total frames. The 28-year-old is currently scheduled to make his next start against the Rangers at home next weekend.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Stephen Kolek: Takes loss Friday
Rotowire
Kolek (3-2) allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over 4.1 innings to take the loss versus the Diamondbacks on Friday.
Kolek had come away with a pair of no-decisions in his last two outings despite covering 11.1 scoreless innings in that stretch. He had some trouble with the Diamondbacks, including allowing two solo home runs, and a rally in the fifth inning was enough to knock him from the game at 82 pitches (52 strikes). Kolek is now at a 3.50 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 34:18 K:BB across 46.1 innings over eight starts this season. His next start is projected to be on the road versus the Dodgers.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Stephen Kolek: Tosses 5.2 scoreless frames
Rotowire
Kolek allowed three hits and issued two walks while striking out three batters over 5.2 scoreless innings in a no-decision against San Francisco on Monday.
Kolek struggled in the first two innings, allowing five baserunners and working out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the second. He settled in nicely after that, yielding just one additional hit. The right-hander couldn't quite manage a quality start -- he was pulled with two outs in the fifth after having thrown 98 pitches -- but he bounced back nicely after surrendering six runs over 5.1 frames against Miami in his previous outing, a start which also featured early struggles before he settled in. Kolek has held down a spot in the Padres' rotation with a 3.47 ERA through 36.1 frames, and he's projected for a road matchup against Milwaukee in his next start.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Stephen Kolek: Solid in no-decision
Rotowire
Kolek did not factor into the decision during Thursday's 7-6 extra-innings loss against the Blue Jays. He went six innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks with six strikeouts.
After a clean first two starts in which he didn't allow a run, Kolek has now surrendered eight earned runs over his last two starts spanning 11 innings. Regardless, the 28-year-old has certainly delivered all that's been asked of him as the Padres continue to bide time before the return of veteran Yu Darvish (elbow). Kolek's ERA is up to 2.84 following Thursday's quality start.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Stephen Kolek: Solved by Seattle
Rotowire
Kolek (2-1) took the loss Friday, coughing up five runs on eight hits -- including three home runs -- and a walk over five-plus innings. He struck out four.
After blanking the Pirates and Rockies over 14.1 innings in his first two starts since being promoted at the beginning of May, the 28-year-old right-hander ran into trouble against a much better offense Friday. Kolek saw the first pitch he threw ripped down the right-field line for a solo shot by J.P. Crawford, and two-run homers by Rowdy Tellez in the fourth inning and Cal Raleigh in the sixth accounted for the rest of the damage off him. Kolek will take a 2.33 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB through his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Toronto.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Stephen Kolek: Blanks Pittsburgh in season debut
Rotowire
Kolek (1-0) earned the win Sunday against the Pirates, allowing four hits and two walks over 5.1 scoreless innings. He struck out four.
It was a strong season debut for the 28-year-old Kolek, who held the Pirates to just four singles en route to a victory. Kolek made 42 appearances out of the bullpen for San Diego last year, pitching to a 5.21 ERA with a 1.52 WHIP and 39:12 K:BB across 46.2 regular-season innings. Kolek figures to stick around as the Padres' fifth starter following Sunday's performance. He'd line up for a road matchup in Colorado in his next outing.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Stephen Kolek: Getting start Sunday
Rotowire
The Padres plan to recall Kolek from Triple-A El Paso to have him start Sunday's game against the Pirates at PNC Park, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
San Diego had been getting by with a four-man rotation since optioning Kyle Hart to El Paso on April 24, but the team will transition back to a five-man starting staff this weekend and call upon Kolek to fill the void. After losing out to Hart in spring training in the competition for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, Kolek turned in an inflated 6.38 ERA and 1.54 WHIP over 24 innings across his five starts in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, though his 14.4 K-BB% has been encouraging. Kolek will get a favorable draw against a weak Pirates offense for his first career MLB start, and a strong showing could allow him to stick around for multiple turns through the rotation while Yu Darvish (elbow) remains at least a few weeks away from making his season debut.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Stephen Kolek: Impressive in rotation audition
Rotowire
Kolek completed four innings in a Cactus League appearance against the Royals on Thursday, allowing one run on three hits while issuing one walk and striking out two batters.
Yu Darvish started the game and tossed four frames for San Diego, and Kolek followed with four innings of his own. The latter held Kansas City to a lone run, which is the only run he's surrendered through nine frames this spring. Kolek's five punchouts over that span isn't impressive, but he's walked just one batter and given up only five hits. The right-hander is among several pitchers competing for the Padres' final rotation spot this spring, and to this point it's unclear who among the group -- which also includes Kyle Hart, Matt Waldron and Randy Vasquez -- has the upper hand.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Stephen Kolek: Makes good impression Tuesday
Rotowire
Kolek tossed two scoreless innings in a Cactus League game against San Diego on Tuesday, allowing two hits and striking out two batters.
Kolek came out of the bullpen for all 42 of his appearances as a rookie last season, but he's getting stretched out this spring to compete for the Padres' fifth rotation spot. The right-hander looked good in his spring debut Tuesday, throwing five different types of offerings among his 25 pitches and keeping the Angels off the scoreboard. San Diego's other options to break camp as the fifth starter include Kyle Hart, Matt Waldron, Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Stephen Kolek: Will be stretched out this spring
Rotowire
Kolek will be stretched out as a starting pitcher this spring, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.
All 42 of Kolek's appearances with the Padres last season came in relief and he was a full-time reliever in the minors in 2023, as well. However, the 27-year-old made 25-plus starts on two occasions during his time in the minors, so starting is not completely foreign to him. Stretching Kolek out makes sense for a Padres team that lacks rotation depth, but he's a long shot to break camp as one of the team's starting five. Kolek missed the final two months of last season with a forearm issue but appears to be healthy as camp opens.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Stephen Kolek: Yet to throw off mound
Rotowire
Kolek (forearm) has been playing catch but hasn't yet thrown off a mound, per MLB.com.
Kolek is rehabbing from right forearm tendinitis, but it's not clear how close he may be to a return to the Padres. The righty reliever logged 42 appearances with the team prior to getting hurt, posting a 5.21 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 39:12 K:BB over 46.2 frames. If Kolek makes it back to the big-league bullpen before the end of the season, he'll likely take on a low-leverage role.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Stephen Kolek: Not yet throwing
Rotowire
Kolek (forearm) is rehabbing at San Diego's team complex in Arizona, but he has not yet resumed throwing, per MLB.com.
Kolek landed on the 15-day injured list due to right forearm tendinitis July 31. He's eligible to be activated but appears to be some time away from returning given that he hasn't yet begun a throwing program. The rookie reliever appeared in 42 games prior to the injury, posting a 5.21 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 39:12 K:BB while picking up three wins and two holds over 46.2 innings.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Stephen Kolek: Out with forearm tendinitis
Rotowire
The Padres placed Kolek on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to right forearm tendinitis.
The right-hander presumably suffered the injury during his appearance against the Dodgers on Tuesday, during which he allowed two walks over a scoreless inning. Kolek is without an official timeline for his return but will be eligible to be reinstated in mid-August.
